1833. Marryat, Peter Simple, v. iii. ch. 1, p. 313. I ran down to
Plymouth, hoisted my pennant, drew my jollies from the dock yard,
etc.
1883. Graphic, 12 May, p. 487, col. 3. The Marine ... not being
either a soldier or a sailor, was generally described as a joey, a
jolly, a shellback, etc.
1884. G. A. Sala, in Illustr. L. News, 12 April, p. 339, col. 3. I
should be glad to learn ... why a militiaman should be a tame jolly
(Admiral Smythe, in ‘The Sailor’s Word-Book’ is my authority); and
a marine a ‘Royal jolly.’